Greed Is Not Good

Read Revelation 17:1–20:15

1. I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor.
2. He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal.
3. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.”
4. Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.
5. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her evil deeds.
6. Do to her as she has done to others. Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.” Revelation 18:1-6

Books on business management sell quite well, and for good reason: all businesses—large, medium, and small—compete in a brutal marketplace where nice guys really do finish last. Every competitive edge makes a difference. Every competitive edge soon becomes obsolete, too, which only quickens the pace, raises the stakes, and deepens the businessperson’s commitment to finding a sure way to make more money.

John’s vision in this passage is disheartening to anyone who is greedy for wealth. Here, the mother of all material wealth, Babylon, is destroyed. But the bad news for businesspeople, or merchants, is good news for those who love God more than wealth. As you read, determine to focus on God and his plan, not on money.

The greed demonstrated by the merchants in John’s vision is nothing new. People have always exploited sinful human desires, such as greed, lust, and pride, for money. They view human vices as opportunities to make a living or even to get rich. They reason, “As long as people want this, why not give it to them?” But those who love God hate evil. They do not want to encourage it in others any more than they want it ruling their own lives. They don’t see people’s greed and evil desires as opportunities to exploit, but as sad facts of human nature that need to be brought under the lordship of Christ.

Honor God in your business dealings. Avoid the temptation to take advantage of people’s vices to enrich yourself. If you make or sell goods or services, uphold God’s glory in it all. No one can undermine your business ethics if you care most about their effects on other people.